Is Sebastian Giovinco The Best Player in The MLS? Italian Star Leading Toronto FC To New Heights

Sebastian Giovinco — the five-foot, five-inch, 28-year-old striker for Toronto FC — could very well be the best player in the MLS. He’s certainly the best player the Toronto franchise have ever fielded in its nine-year MLS sojourn, and such as been his influence that the team is well placed to make it to the playoffs for the first time.

That’s no coincidence and the numbers speak for themselves. Saturday’s 2-1 win against Philadelphia Union was their 8th of the season – after 18 rounds – and put Toronto on 27 points and into a temporary tie for second spot in the Eastern Conference. It’s still early yet, of course, with another 18 rounds to go before the regular season is done, but a cursory comparison with years gone by — pre-Giovinco — tells its own story.

Toronto have never won more than 11 matches in a single MLS season — a feat they only achieved last year — and the most points they have ever garnered is 41,which was also achieved last season. Failing a collapse of mammoth proportions, they are already on course to surpass both those marks this year.

To be fair, it’s not all down to the pocket-sized Italian international; Toronto have brought in some prime talent over the past two seasons, led by U.S. men’s national team captain Michael Bradley, striker Jozy Altidore and — for a short while — England international star, Jermaine Defoe. But Giovinco’s influence cannot be over emphasized.

The numbers, again, and Sportsnet’s John Molinaro, put it best while making a case for Giovinco’s place amongst the league’s leading players.

“Giovinco has 12 goals and nine assists, and has been involved in 21 of TFC’s 28 goals this season, or 75 percent. That’s the very definition of influence, and it’s scary to think where the Reds would be without the diminutive Italian. Is Giovinco the best player in the league? It’s not even an argument any more.”

Put into context, Giovinco’s 12 goals, in half a season at TFC, makes him the 7th highest goalscorer in club history (Dwayne di Rosario leads the list, with 28 goals spread over four MLS seasons). Furthermore, Giovinco is 2nd (to Kei Kamara, 13 goals) on the league goal scorers’ chart, joint third in assists (behind Ethan Finlay, 11, and Benny Feilhaber, 10), leads the league in both shots attempted (106) and shots on target (44), and has been voted MLS Player of the week three times, according to mlssoccer.com. In a league that includes accomplished strikers in the ilk of David Villa, Clint Dempsey, Obafemi Martins, Robbie Keane, and the Brazilian Kaka, many of whom play on stronger teams, Giovinco’s achievements for TFC are truly remarkable.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kPwFF00JadU

His performance in Toronto’s last two matches clearly underline what Giovinco is all about. When the Reds travelled to face New York City just 10 days ago, the Italian forward was at the fore in a scintillating 4-4 draw, scoring a quick fire hat-trick despite also missing a penalty kick and hitting the post twice. Then, on Saturday at home to Philadelphia, his touch was all over Toronto’s 2-1 win. His exquisite pass set up Marky Delgado for the opening goal, and he then grabbed the second — and winning — goal himself, coolly putting away the rebound after his thunderous 20-yard shot was stopped by Union ‘keeper Brian Sylvestre.

In truth, considering Giovinco’s path to the MLS, it shouldn’t be too surprising that he has lit up the league in such a spectacular fashion. Having come through the ranks at Italian giants Juventus, Giovinco had already made is mark in Italy, winning two league titles with Juve and impressing in a two-year spell with Parma. He had also played 21 times for Italy, including appearances at Euro 2012, before surprisingly signing for Toronto FC this year.

Giovinco was surprisingly left out of the MLS All-Star roster after fans votes were tallied last week, although he was eventually included in the final squad after All-Star head coach Pablo Mastroeni filled out the full squad.

In Sebastian Giovinco we trust. #TFCLive

— Toronto FC (@TorontoFC) July 18, 2015

There’s no doubt in Toronto though: Giovinco is numero uno.

(Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images)